Primal Night

by Ally Parker

  Ryker shook his head and cursed. Leaning back, he ran his hands through his cropped dark hair. “You’re right. I’m not thinking straight. We need to get you out of here. Now, while we have the chance.”

  Her hands quivered to reach forward and pull him back. A knot spasmed in her stomach. Was she disappointed that Ryker had actually complied with her request? She needed to get a handle on her emotions. Now wasn’t the time to pine over some shifter. Remember you can’t trust anyone. Then his words registered through her desire-filled brain. What? Wasn’t she meant to be his ticket into the Pit?

  Brows pulling down, she leaned forward, careful to keep her voice low. “What about our plan?”

  His gaze grazed along her neck. He licked his lips, his attention dipping lower to the arm she awkwardly cradled. Anger shone in his eyes. Stupidly, it warmed her insides to think that someone cared enough about her to feel pissed that she was hurt.

  “I’ve changed my mind. You’re going to slow me down. I told you before… I work alone.”

  And like a blink the warm and fuzzy feeling circling inside her vanished. Grinding her teeth, she had to work to keep her voice low. “We had a deal.”

  Reaching out, his palms ran over her shoulders. With more care than she was used to, he hefted her up so that her back was flush along the trunk of the tree.

  “Deal’s off. Redemption or whatever this is to you can be earned some other way. This isn’t something that will earn you peace from your past. It’s just going to get you killed or worse. I won’t let that happen.”

  With deft, quick movements, he started at the bindings as if his words hadn’t just slammed into her with the force of a wrecking ball. His barbed words wrapped around her heart and squeezed, their pointed tips digging deep into her soul. She growled and tore her arm free. “Don’t judge me. I am who I am because I had to be. No one came to save a mere pup from the rogue pack that murdered my family. I had to kill my own father after the shifter raped and murdered my mom.”

  Tears pricked at her eyes, and she sucked in a fierce breath. “I’ve endured beatings, torture, and had my freedom stripped and forced to do things to stay alive. That sort of thing changes a person, no matter how strong you are. Since I was ten, all I ever wished for was a hero to come and save me—I’d beg for it every night until I realized I’d have to save myself. Except I couldn’t. I only got away because of the generosity of Gracie. I have to save her.”

  Not many people, human or shifter, liked her—it was the nature of the beast when you’d do whatever it took to survive. She should have been used to frost-tipped words. Yet Ryker’s opinion of her mattered. She didn’t want him thinking she was nothing more than a ruthless, cold monster. She was working hard to make up for the things she’d done. For so long all she’d done was survive, and for what?

  Ryker stiffened and stepped closer, smashing his lips against hers. The kiss was dominating, consuming. For a split second, her body softened as if she were putty in his hands. Her wolf surged forward; she could feel it with the tingles in her eyes. His arms coasted down her body, pulling her flush against his hard muscles. The edge of his arousal pressed against her hip. On its own accord her body heated, and the desire she’d been fighting returned with the rage of an inferno burning and licking at her core.

  No. He didn’t get to cut her down and, on a whim, take what he wanted.

  “Fight, damn it.”

  His words tumbled through the confusion of mixed emotions, and she pulled back. Ryker chased her with a growl, his arm snaking behind her, pulling her body taut. He wanted her to fight him? Awareness pulled at her, and she sensed someone watching. Squirming in his hold, she snarled and bit down on his lip. Ryker tore his mouth from hers. He sucked in a ragged breath, matching the seesaw of her own chest.

  A chuckle sounded a few feet behind her. She turned to face Josef. He smiled.

  “Enough! Head in the game; I can see why you’re hungry for a taste of this delectable morsel, but save it for the Pit.” His gaze roamed over her, and she suppressed a shiver, her stomach recoiling at his attentions. His nostrils flared, and he licked her lips as if savoring the taste of her disgust. “Bag her up. We leave in five.”

  Bag her up? As in put something over her head. Visions of being buried alive with an oxygen mask strapped to her face snapped across her brain. Her breathing increased and fear took hold, consuming all rational thought. He wanted to put that over her head? Already she couldn’t breathe. The world closed in around her, consuming everything.

  She couldn’t go through with this. Air became thin, and she struggled to suck in more oxygen. “No! Don’t do this.”

  Using all her strength, she yanked and pulled in Ryker’s hold. Nothing. Her vision swam, darkening at the edges. Canines lengthened, piercing her tongue, fur blanketed over her skin and she couldn’t hold back. Why couldn’t she breathe? Sorrow ghosted the panic, and she knew that she wasn’t strong enough to go through with the arrangement. She was going to fail Gracie, fail all the other females, and fail herself.

  9

  The vehicle jolted again and Ryker held Kali closer to his body. He was beside himself; his wolf fought tooth and claw to shift and take care of their unconscious mate. After his father produced the head bag to ensure the Pit’s location remained safe, Kali had freaked out. The ruse of indifference went against every instinct he possessed. When she’d passed out his wolf had howled with panic. He ran his thumb over the soft, warm skin on Kali’s shoulder reminding himself she was still alive. The bumps of the uneven dirt road helped keep his attentions unnoticed.

  Looking down at her so vulnerable, he thought her body seemed so small and fragile in his hold. He smiled, positive that many would have underestimated her small stature. Lips flat-lining, however, he didn’t think freaked out gave Kali’s reaction justice. Her breathing had been so rapid, her gaze frantic, and she’d fought. Hard. He’d hated every single second of it.

  Half shifted to her wolf, she’d passed out and returned to her human state. Guilt washed over him, weighing down his shoulders. He’d let her down. If he hadn’t spent so much time basking in the realization that she was attracted to him, he might have been able to set her free. Instead, he’d put Kali in even more danger.

  Brennon, his father’s second, eyeballed him through the rearview mirror. He’d have to be mindful not to draw attention to his relationship to Kali; he doubted anything would go unnoticed under the shifter’s sharp gaze. Other than his father and himself, Brennon was the only other shifter without the headgear coverings, and by the looks of it, he wasn’t pleased with his father’s new found expanded trust.

  Kali groaned in his lap, her muscles tensed. Before panic could grip her, he struck the sweet spot on her neck that would render her unconscious, an action he’d done numerous times during the seventeen-hour drive. Maybe a selfish-ass move, but considering the state she’d been in the alternative wasn’t an option he could handle.

  Turning off Route 88, the van jostled on the rougher terrain, making the vehicle slide on the icy ground. Most of Ryker’s attention had been on Kali through the long drive, but he’d gleaned enough from the glimpse of scenery and signs to know that they were in Alberta. His father had some nerve putting the Pit right under the Council’s nose and literally on the border of their territory. It made him wonder if more Council representatives were involved or if it was simply complacence. Time would tell.

  The blanket of darkness had swept over the sky hours ago, plummeting the temperature to sub levels. Despite the car’s heat and his shifter thermostat control, he felt the bite in the air.

  Josef looked over his shoulder, smiling. “Home, sweet home.”

  Peering out the front window, all Ryker could make out was a barn. He frowned. Things didn’t seem right. There was no security detail visible, no fences to contain escapees or prevent the random human from walking in. While the barn was as large as what you’d expect a barn to be, it certainly wasn’t big enough to hold the amou
nt of shifters his father claimed to have.

  He frowned, summoning the memories of his first visit. He was sure that they’d been underground; the air had been musty with the scent of earth, pain, and desperation. His stomach roiled, recollecting the depravity.

  Opening the pack’s link, he already knew that the distance was too great. Every alpha possessed the ability to communicate telepathically through the pack link, no matter the form. However, distance was an issue. His body sighed with the reestablished link. The pounding in his head since locking his pack out eased. It wasn’t natural to close the pack link; it would have hurt his pack. His men didn’t deserve it, but he knew they would remain loyal to the end and he couldn’t put them at risk.

  Lake tore off the headgear. “Hell yes! I’m starved. And for more than just food.”

  The vehicle slowed to a stop, and Marcus removed the coverings off his head and moved to open the sliding door and climb out. He looked at Kali, practically striping her naked with his gaze. Ryker growled, and Marcus glanced up to stare him in the eyes, his lips yanking up on one side. “Now there’s a plan.”

  He should have ripped the male’s cock off when he’d had a chance. There was no way he’d allow the male anywhere near Kali. His grip tightened just so he could reassure himself she was safe in his arms. The question burned into his mind: for how long? Things really hadn’t panned out the way he’d imagined. His mouth watered to rip into the other male. Ryker smiled back. He’s dead already; you just have to bide your time to deliver his fate.

  The male’s smile dimmed. He frowned and took off with Lake toward the barn doors. Hovering at the entrance, Ryker brows pulled down, watching the shifter expose a hidden panel and press some buttons before the mechanical drone of the unlocking door sounded.

  Brennon’s attention prickled at his senses. The damn male was going to be a problem. His senses told him he’d been watching him the whole time. “Any weapons you have in that pack need to be surrendered once we’re in the entrance and before we enter the facility.”

  Ryker nodded once, not surprised with the order. Other than a utility tool, there wasn’t use for such things; after all, he was the weapon. They all were.

  Brennon’s top lip curled into a sneer. “There are rules, laws that will be foll…”

  “Brennon.” His father laughed. “There will be plenty of time for that later; let me show Ryker my empire first, whet his palate.”

  “But sir, protocol states that...”

  If he wasn’t a shifter, Ryker would have missed the snap of his father’s fist. Blood spilled from the cut on the beta’s lip. Josef’s eyes shone with fire.

  “I know what the damn protocol states—I created it. Don’t question my commands again, or I’ll take it as an official challenge.”

  Josef turned facing forward and pulled at the lapels of his jacket, straightening his button-down shirt. Tension filled the van, heavy, thick, and rancid. Holding his breath, his muscles coiled, prepared to fight or flee with his precious cargo.

  The van jerked forward. The barn doors stood opened like a mouth to hell and hungry for any lost soul’s misfortunate to enter. Kali stirred, and this time he did nothing to stop it.

  Clarity slammed into Kali, and she sucked in a breath. The burlap scraped across her skin, and panic licked deep inside of her. She needed air, to feel the breeze against her face. Too many memories blurred the boundaries of reality. Reaching up to claw at the head covering, she couldn’t move. The panic raged to an inferno. Her heart thundered double-time. God, someone had placed bindings around her body and now she couldn’t move.

  “Be still, Kitty. You’re safe.”

  Safe? That must have been a matter of perspective. Because from where she sat, safe wouldn’t have been the word to describe her situation. Still, the whispered deep rumble washed over her, tranquil, calm, and strong. Only one infuriating male called her Kitty, so that meant she was wrapped in his arms. It eased the terror just enough so she could remember what had happened. Mouth dry, she tried to steady her breath. Right. She was with Ryker, not trapped in a box with limited air supply.

  She needed to focus; they had to save the females. That couldn’t happen if she didn’t get control of her fears. The reminder didn’t do much good. Adrenaline threaded through her veins, staking all the terror and panic to uncontrollable levels. Damn it. She was ruined. Some wounded animal damaged from her captivity. Her stomach knotted, and she flexed her muscles, needing some room to breathe. It didn’t help. “God, I can’t… I need… ”

  “Shhh,” he crooned. “You can.”

  The door opened beside them, and she jostled in Ryker’s grip as he moved out of the vehicle. From behind, a bang vibrated through the air, followed by the sounds of a lock clicking into place. She jumped, already on high alert. Her muscles stretched in the first stirrings of a shift. A part of her was pleased the wolf in her was taking over. The panic consuming her was too much. Bones snapped, and she welcomed it.

  “Kali, don’t.”

  It was too late. The panic, the fear wasn’t rational. Logically, she knew that her behavior was going to make matters worse, probably cause her death, yet she had no control.

  “Get that bitch under heel, or I’ll leash her myself.”

  Hands fumbled at the bag around her neck and her heart kicked even faster, the taste of freedom so close.

  “No! The cover doesn’t come off until she’s secured.”

  Ryker paused his movements, his body tightened, and he pulled her closer so no space separated them. Under all the swirling emotions controlling her, one took center stage with Ryker’s simple action. It made her feel… safe. Her wolf sank further back to hover just under the surface. An amazing feat considering the level of fear she was experiencing, not to mention her current situation.

  “It won’t. You want the female controlled. I’m following your orders.”

  His fist tightened in the fabric of the bag and he yanked her head to the side, hard. Hot breath kissed her neck in contrast to his actions. “Hold on just a little longer.”

  His voice so low she had to strain to hear it.

  Louder, he snarled and the dominant sound rolled around them and filled the room with power. If she hadn’t known he was Alpha before, she would have then. Every fiber of her body wanted to submit to his demand. The noise was a statement he was the predator, the rest of them prey.

  Ryker lifted the edge of the fabric to fit snugly above her nose. She sucked in a deep breath, the air musty and the smell of fish lingered in the room. Another breath and pine hit her senses. Ryker. Her mind hooked onto his scent, and the muscles in her body unknitted a fraction. Relief filled her lungs on the third breath. Her terror ebbed to a droning panic, one she could rein in enough to gain control of her body.

  “Thank fuck for that,” Lake muttered.

  The hot lick of embarrassment burned up her neck. Weakness wasn’t something their kind accepted well, and she’d given a first-class show to reveal hers. She hated her demons—they consumed her life, her morals, and no matter how far she ran, they haunted her, waiting to control her at the first opportunity.

  “I dunno, the scent of terror makes me hard.” Marcus laughed, adjusting his crotch.

  Nausea filled her stomach, and bile rose. Monsters like Marcus seemed to always sludge their way out of justice. Not this time, and she would be there to savor every second of it. Maybe Marcus was close to losing his humanity, but a part of her believed the male was just messed up to begin with.

  Josef chuckled. “Enough fucking around.” He cleared his throat. “Let’s head down so we can all get a little more comfortable.”

  Ryker’s chest vibrated with a suppressed growl. His whiskers scraped over the burlap bag as he shook his head. This close she could taste the anger rolling off him and it infused with her own. Anger she could deal with, anger hid the fear that maybe she wouldn’t make it out of this alive. A clang of heavy metal hummed from the somewhere to the left.

&nbs
p; With one of her senses taken, everything else compensated, and she picked up on tiny vibrations in the air hinting to the movements of the males. Josef reeked of power and sourness that came with the sick and twisted plan he’d conjured. His steps carried the confidence of a male who knew he possessed control. Ryker held the same authority, only he wasn’t doused in darkness. For him, she wanted to strive to be better.

  Ryker’s warmth seeped into her body with each step. He adjusted her hold as they moved across the room and tightened his arms on the last step. The floor swayed and the area jerked as if they were stepping into an unstable lift. Her muscles tensed, causing her stomach to flip-flop with the downward motion. The air grew dense and musty with every second of their descent. The ride took forever, and she wondered if they were really heading toward hell and not just in the figurative sense. If that were the case, the devil stood only feet from her and now they both were at his mercy. She didn't doubt for a second that if their cover were blown, no one would ever see them again.

  “As you can imagine I’ve gone to great pains to get this establishment up and running,” Josef said. “Something like this doesn’t happen overnight. Not to mention success like we’ve seen doesn’t occur without order and strict laws governing the participants.”

  A cold finger trailed down her calf and all her muscles clenched. Ryker’s chest vibrated under her body, and he maneuvered her away. A male chuckled. The laugh saying you may have won this round… but next time you won’t be so lucky.

  “And strict punishments for those who think themselves above such regulations,” Josef continued. “There are no second chances. You fuck up and you’re out. Once you’re in the program, there’s no leaving. By accepting a position with the cause, you’re vowing to uphold our rules and protect the program at all costs”